Darwin to Dili: First regular weekly Qantas flight takes off
Qantas’ first new ongoing international route since 2008 is expected to offer travellers “an exciting new destination”.
Northern Territory
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THE first of Qantas’ regular weekly direct Darwin to Dili flights has been launched.
The return flights will utilise an E190 aircraft and run three times weekly, before increasing to five times in July.
It is the first ongoing international route for the airline since 2008.
Qantas Link chief operating officer Petrea Bradford said the flights mark an exciting partnership for the NT and East Timor.
“It will help support business and trade and also the interconnectedness of both of our nations,” she said.
“It’s an exciting new destination for the intrepid traveller and we think it’s got a lot to offer.”
Acting Consulate General for East Timor Goncala Pinheiro said
‘Timor Leste is still a unspoilt country with the natural beauty of the beaches, some of the best diving locations in the world and friendly welcoming people,” he said.
“It’s not difficult to visit us — Timor Leste is closer to Darwin than Alice Springs.”
Flights between Darwin and Dili occurred during Covid in the form of a charter flight when international borders were closed.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES FLIGHTS RETURN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1999
MINGMA Sherpa was one of the first passengers to board the first commercial Singapore Airlines flight from Darwin to Changi Airport since 1999.
“Why is there a fuss about this?” the Darwin resident asked as reporters, camera operators as well as airport, airline and tourism officials hovered about check in. The oversized balloons and complementary cupcakes were also a clue that something was unusual.
Heading for Nepal for a month, Mingma was an accidental inaugural passenger who will stop-over in Singapore en route. “We booked through a travel agency two weeks ago,” he said. “We didn’t know it was new.”
But new it is — or old, depending on your take. Singapore airlines first landed in Darwin in 1988 and the route ended in 1999 and then in the 2012 its regional arm SilkAir was doing daily flights until the pandemic.
But yesterday was the start of a new era for Singapore Airlines and Darwin, with a flight a week – and the occasional mid-week service – hopefully expanding to three services at the start of May and five by June.
“This is a significant milestone for Darwin as we welcome Singapore Airlines back to the Top End of Australia,” said Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles.
“Having flights between Darwin and Singapore will provide easy access for international tourists from all our key source markets and beyond.”
Department of Tourism deputy chief executive Scott Lovett highlighted the significance fo Singapore Airlines to the Territory. “This is a really important link for us,” he said.
“Singapore Airlines provides us direct, seamless links through Changi Airport through to our key source markets in western Europe and the United States so it’s an extremely important airline service for us to have here.”
The Territory Government has committed $3m for international marketing.
Airport Development Group general manager Selwyn D’Souza also acknowledged the airline’s significance. “It will be phenomenal for tourism, for passengers who want to access the Star Alliance and Singapore Airlines network – thousands of new locations that Territorians can access.”
Singapore Airlines regional manager Karl Schubert said most destinations required passengers to be fully vaccinated and to have a negative pre-flight Covid test and the airline had taken its own measures.
“We’ve invested in the digitalisation of the journey removing high touch elements such as in-flight magazines and using your own tablet.”
EARLIER, MON 11AM: SINGAPORE Airlines will reinstate its first regularly scheduled passenger fight to Darwin for the first time in 23 years.
The last time the service was active was in March 1999.
SQ251 will land in Darwin from Singapore on Tuesday, March 29. at 2.45pm.
A water cannon salute will celebrate the arrival of the flight.
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